The Kove 450 Rally Dakar 2024 journey turned heads — not just because of where it finished, but what it stood for. A new brand with massive ambition, showing up to the toughest rally on earth with something to prove… and lots to learn.
For some, Kove might have seemed to come out of nowhere last year, making its Dakar debut with a three motorcycles team. However, for those of us who have been part of this community for a while, know that we’ve been keeping a keen eye on them for 2 to 3 years!
Contrary to the common skepticism about Chinese brands lacking in R&D, the Kove 450 Rally bikes have been under development for 3 to 4 years, in large numbers and in loco!
Initially, only a few images surfaced… followed by some intriguing videos about the then-called “Kolove”… but information was quite scarce.
I remember a striking video featuring a short-statured Chinese man with long hair, sitting in the middle of the desert, with several motorcycles being tested around him, while he was being interviewed…… but, it was all in Chinese, without subtitles…
A few months later, a translation unveiled the story of a mechanic and MX rider who had dreamt of conquering the Dakar since childhood. Although he never realized his dream, he was determined to make it possible for others with his motorcycles.
Information came to us in dribs and drabs… but the curiosity about these motorcycles kept growing, leading to the creation of the Kove 450 Europe group by Fan di Quarieg, where knowledge was pooled and shared.
We eventually discovered that this motorcycle would sport an engine based on the Zongsheng, which powers the Caballero—this revelation came after the anticipation that Fantic might introduce a more adventurous version of its best-seller, the Caballero. Instead, they chose to focus on a competition bike following the acquisition of the Yamaha factory in Minarelli.
For those familiar with the Zongsheng’s reliability, it all started to click: a Rally bike with a robust, reliable engine and maintenance intervals of 5,000km was indeed a dream come true!
At EICMA 2022, the Kove rebranding was revealed and they officially announced its participation in the Dakar 2023!
From that moment on, the influx of criticism and skeptical forecasts flourished… but despite all odds, Kove charted its own path, finishing stage after stage, writing Dakar history with its unprecedented debut achievement—taking all three motorcycles to the finish line!
The Kove 450 Rally Dakar 2024 Story
I always thought that setting such ambitious goals for the second year was a bit premature… because in Dakar, predictions are best saved for the end of the race! The unpredictable nature and myriad of challenges the teams have to face, making any predictions is pure gamble! And this year, Mr. Zhang learned this lesson the hard way…
Before the race even began, their motorcycles were detained at customs, adding tension just days before the event kickoff.
It’s unclear whether this setback influenced Kove’s trajectory in this Dakar, but it certainly didn’t help.
The team’s performance in 2024 might not have met all the lofty expectations and goals set, but it still featured significant highlights and clearly comes through, as a positive performance for a brand in its second Dakar participation.
After Mason Klein’s unexpected departure from KTM and his announcement to race for Kove set social media ablaze with speculation about his capabilities and immaturity.
Given Mason’s decision to decline an offer from Honda out of loyalty to the Austrian brand, may help project a much more positive image of the talented young American.
With limited time for testing, preparation, and adaptation to the bike, Mason kicked off Dakar 2024 with an impressive 4th place in the prologue, followed by an historic 3rd place on the first stage—Kove’s first podium finish in Dakar!
How the Kove 450 Rally Held Up at Dakar 2024
And for those who pay attention to detail, Mason did so, after choosing to open the stage himself!!
Yet, the Rally was just warming up, and the second stage brought devastating challenges for the Kove team…
Xavier Flick’s accident at kilometer 150 marked the beginning of a series of hardships.
6 motorcycles withdrew in that stage, including the unfortunate Carles Falcon… 
Photo A.S.O./Fotop/V.J.Branca
And for those who pay attention to detail, Mason did so, after choosing to open the stage himself!!
Yet, the Rally was just warming up, and the second stage brought devastating challenges for the Kove team…
Xavier Flick’s accident at kilometer 150 marked the beginning of a series of hardships.
6 motorcycles withdrew in that stage, including the unfortunate Carles Falcon…
Rumors suggested a loose clamp was to blame. Despite Mason’s efforts to mend the motorcycle on-site, Mr. Zhang had to authorize Sunnier (Kove’s Top rider from last year), to donate essential parts from his bike for Klein’s repairs.
After hours of delay and navigating approximately 100km in the dark, Mason managed to reach the stage end but plummeted to 113th place.
This ordeal sidelined Sunnier from competition, though he persisted in the Rally in Experience mode, enduring pain from a collarbone fracture, sustained about 45 days before Dakar’s onset. Only Mason and Sunnier were riding the new Kove Rally 450 EX.
This dark chapter significantly dimmed Kove’s aspirations, but such is the Dakar, and by now, Mr. Zhang surely grasps this reality a lot better.
Refusing to let the public assume a minor oversight like a poorly tightened clamp was to blame, the Boss transparently explained Mason’s bike troubles in a video. Click to see video!
On the 3rd stage, Mason’s set off like a rocket, leading the pack through the initial checkpoints, but ended up colliding with a pile of rocks, damaging the chain guide and gearshift lever severely enough to impact the gearbox.
Against the odds, he managed repairs yet again but ended up being the last to reach the assistance zone by nightfall. That day’s stringent 2-hour service window only allowed for minimal fixes, pushing Klein to the night’s camp under challenging circumstances.
The team, still had two more additional riders, including a 20-year-old rookie (the son of one of last year’s riders), so, all hopes rested on Neels Theric’s shoulders. Occupying the 25th place overall by the third stage, Theric embodied the team’s aspirations to secure at least one bike within the Top 20.
Embarking on the 4th stage with determination, Theric achieved the 15th fastest time by kilometer 126, though subsequent challenges saw him finishing in 35th place. A mandatory engine replacement and the resultant 15-minute penalty ensued.
Following the ordeal of the previous day and the limited 2-hour service window, Mason Klein adopted a survival strategy for the 4th stage, aiming to ensure completion and get that necessary engine swap.
The 5th stage, featuring a lengthy over 500km tarmac connection and a brief 118km special, saw Mason Klein finishing 5th and Neels Theric 27th.
The 6th stage, anticipated to be particularly grueling with over 600km of sand, covered in a 48-hour span without any mechanical support, testing everyone’s limits.
Many faced defeat, including factory riders like Skyler Howes (due to engine failure on his Honda) and Joan Barreda (due to engine failure on his Hero), alongside Mason Klein, who began the day with a flat battery, but eventually managed to get his bike going, with the help of car driver legends like Nasser Al-Attiyah, but ended up not making it to end.
Two additional KTM Rally Replicas, including experienced Polish racer Giemza Maciej’s and one from the BAS team, with whom Mason had previously raced with, joined the tally of 20 motorcycles that withdrew in Dakar’s first half.
However, Cesare Zacchetti, the Italian who bought a Kove 450 Rally, upgraded his suspension and set off for the Dakar challenge within the most demanding Male Moto class, remarkably overcame the 2 day sand bout, even after having to sleep by himself in the middle of the dunes and having his bike run over by non-other then Carlos Sains, conquering this year’s longest stage!
Even after being run over by Carlo Sainz' Audi, Cesare's Kove 450 Rally kept happily rolling until the end of the brutal Marathon stage!!
Following an epic confrontation with the Empty Quarter’s soft sands, Neels Theric secured a respectable 28th place.
All eyes were on Theric, who got to the rest day in 24th place, trailing the Top 20 by 45 minutes and 41 seconds. But unfortunately, the subsequent week proved challenging for the Frenchman, initiating with engine troubles on the following stage, culminating in a 109th place finish and another engine swap.
After having survived 48 hours in Saudi Arabia’s most remote sands, only to face such adversity was disheartening and effectively squashed any Top 20 aspirations…
The Boss once again stepped forward to elucidate the mishap, assuming full responsibility for the setback:
Click here to see video!
Remaining in contention were two Kove entrants: the rookie Fang Xiangliang, maintaining a steady 42nd position, and Cesare, ranked 84th overall and 21st in the Male Moto category.
Despite disqualification for parting with his bike’s components to aid Mason, Sunnier persevered in Experience mode, leveraging each kilometre to rigorously test the new Kove model under Dakar’s real world conditions, now with Neels Theric for company.
Fang Xiangliang’s commendable debut secured him a Top 50 finish!
As the race concluded, four Kove bikes crossed the finish line, a testament to the team’s resilience and determination.
Interpretations of these events may vary, and indeed, many have already formed opinions without needing further elucidation.
Some critics argue the bikes endure merely because they’re ridden “at a leisurely pace,” a perspective that either showcases ignorance or arrogance.
After all, who among us embarks on leisurely rides that culminate in a mid-rank Dakar performances?! Oh well…
Cesare Zacchetti, the “Duke of the Bivouac,” relished his Dakar adventure, finishing 82nd, while Sunnier and Neels both completed the race in Experience mode.
What’s Next for Kove After Dakar 2024?
In my view, Kove has a bright future ahead! Not just in the racing world, as it stands out as one of today’s most promising brands in the adventure motorcycle realm.
I eagerly anticipate testing a Kove 450 Rally as an adventure bike, a venture I intend to document and share extensively and unfiltered with all of you.
P.S. – Of the just over 100 motorcycles that embarked on this Dakar journey, 39 failed to reach the finish line, including two from Kove, mirroring Honda’s tally.
